I looked through Owl Nest’s very comprehensive supply list for flu prep. I have a few questions:
1. What is alcohol gel—is that the same as the hand sanitizer you get at the store? 2. What is a pump pot and why do you need one? 3. Why are cast iron Dutch ovens and pans recommended? Is this for outdoor cooking? 4. Why are paper bags on the list? For garbage? 5. I’ve seen on the list both “cord” and “rope”. Is “cord” different from “rope” and why do you need both? 6. Why do we need large coffee cans with holes punched in them? Are these meant to be an alternative cooking source? 7. When you refer to “anitbacterial spray”, is that the same things as Lysol? 8. What is Sambucol? 9. What is a dental kit? I’m assuming this is more than just toothbrush, paste and dental floss? 10. What is Ossillococcinum flu remedy? Is this a homeopathic remedy?
Thanks for any help!
Tina: How you prepare for any potential diasaster depends on what you think can happen. Planning involves assumptions. Cast iron cookware is great for many types of cooking but Owl Nest’s may assume that you may need to cook outside. Many people put forth lists without giving their assumptions of what they expect to have to do. I suggest that you read some scenarios, then some lists and they will make more sense.
Behond the very basics preparing for a disruption in one’s lifestyle is very personal. Ossillococcinum flu remedy is a homopathic and I would not waste my time on it. Kelly
OOPS.New computer, new office, new clinic. Kelly
NP1 is right on.
However, many informed, intelligent people have stocked Osillococcinum. Homeopathics has its devotees as well as its detractors. Read Homeopathic Treatment of Influenza by Sandra J. Perko and make your own mind up.
Alcohol gel is the same as the hand sanitizer you can buy in bottles at the store. Any hand sanitizer should state on the label that it contains a minimum 70% alcohol.
An antibacterial spray is anything that kills bacteria. it could be anything from diluted bleach to tea tree oil to Lysol or some other chemical.
A dental kit usually contains things such as material to fashion a temporary filling, ease toothache, etc. It’s meant to serve as a stopgap measure (basic dentisrty first aid) until you can see a dentist.
You can find the dental kit supplies at WalMart — or complete kits on ebay
Tina- I can help with a couple of these.
Cast iron Dutch ovens and pans are for cooking on a fireplace/grill/woodstove/kerosene heater. (Ive cooked meals in a Dutch Oven on a Kerocene heater-just make sure you have plenty of ventalation) I’m not sure what they mean by “pump pot” my guess is a Thermos container that has a pumping mechanism so that you can get hot water/coffee out without opening the Thermos. Ive seen these at delis/small resteraunts/self serve places. They will make coffee and put it in these carafes so that coffee dosn’t overcook on a burner. A second guess, and a handy item to have, is a “French Press” coffee pot- you put ground coffee and hot water in the pot then press a plunger down. A great way to make coffee with no electric-though you do need to heat the water some way.
Ossillococcinum flu remedy is a homeopathic remedy. I will say, I tend to steer awy from homeopatheic remedies-and I havn’t used it myself, but Ive heard so many good things about it-both word of mouth and even a bit in the MSM that it is on my list of things to pick up on my shopping trip next week.
A dental kit is more involved than the basic brush/paste/floss-it includes materials for temp. fillings and other dental emergencies.
Rope is generally thicker than cord, and I think in terms of nylon cord-like what you might use for clothelines, and rope is like hemp or manila and used for things like tenting. Now my husband has a gazillion types of rope/cording etc, made of differnent material and used for different things and would have problems with my very simple definition-he’s a sailor and is picky about ropes and knots and so forth, but this might give you an idea.
I’m assuming that the alcohol gel is hand sanitizer because hand sanitizer needs to be over 60% alcohol. I’m also assuming the antibactirial spray is Lysol.
I’m not sure about the coffee cans, though you can cook in them. You can make little “buddy” stoves with them. You can put charcoal briquetts in them and use as temp grill.
I don’t know about the paper bags but I’m thinking you could put used tissues in those bags and burn them as a sanitary measure. I would use plastic bags for garbage.
Hope this helps!
Sambucol is made from elderberries and is supposed to work against the flu. Before I heard of avian flu, I had bought some tablets for seasonal flu. Don’t know if it’s effective. Don’t know if it increases the cytokine storm, either.
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=65394-razei-bar-sambucol-bird-flu
Here’s a description of some research. Looks like they want to sell products, too.
Tina (and others): For what it’s worth, I’ve printed out Owl’s prep supply list and keep a working copy on my computer and a hard copy in my pandemic notebook. I’ve taken off things that I personally don’t need or that are duplicates on the list, added a few things (primarily to the extensive food list) and reorganized things in a way that makes sense to me. I’ve left a few things on that I don’t have and don’t exactly know what they’re for and occassionaly search the wikie to find discussions of these items before making up my mind to keep (and ultimately obtain) or delete. I check off items as I purchase them. So basically, I’ve used Owl’s list as a framework for my own list. BTW, I intend to do the majority of my cooking with a Dutch oven over charcoal - actually I do a lot of this type of cooking already. Keep in mind that there are two “styles” of Dutch ovens: a “home” oven (flat bottom and rounded lid) and “camp” oven (three legs on the bottom and a flat, flanged lid so that coals can be put on top).
Ossillococcinum flu remedy can be found at Wally World and at most vitamin shoppe/health food stores. I have a good supply of herbal teas (ecchinacea and goldenseal), oil of oregano and colloidal silver. Sambucol as well. Be Well
Isn’t Oscillococcinum manufactured from wild duck heart and liver, because those organs are reservoirs for influenza viruses?
Dennis in Colorado – at 15:55 Isn’t Oscillococcinum manufactured from wild duck heart and liver, because those organs are reservoirs for influenza viruses?
Yes it is, and one of the primary reasons I will NEVER use it.
You have no idea of the source.
that was a good headsup to vegetarians…
I looked at the ingredients on the box and those animal organs were not listed.. as a matter of fact.. not much was listed on the package for “Oscillococcinum flu remedy” so I did not buy it. Good job! I dont eat organ meats.
Dennis in Col- WOW! This vegetarian thanks you for that tip on the Oscillococcinum-I was planning on getting some! While not a strict Vegetarian-I know that sometimes stuff I eat might have meat broth or lard or something in it, I really want to steer clear of Wild Duck Organs! Thats insane! And yet…..I’m pretty sure Ive seen this advertised in veggie mags…Hmm
The True Story of Oscillococcinum
Re: echinacea at 15:39…I just read something on this yesterday which was very pertinent to my situation and may be others on the forums:
If you are treating an asthmatic who is allergic to ragweed (it’s a huge trigger for my dd’s asthma flares), you should NOT use echinacea. It is in the aster family, which also includes ragweed, and the Am. Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology has identified several dozen cases that correlate echinacea and asthma attacks/allergic reactions.
Chamomile and boneset (eleuthero) are also related to ragweed. (Bananas and cantaloupe, too…dd is strictly forbidden by the dr to go near them if the ragweed is high.)
I was surprised when I read the report, but was glad to have the info…I would hate to give something so common to my dd that is supposed to strengthen her system and would cause much trouble instead, especially in a SIP situation.
Oscillococcinum is only sold in “200C” potency. That means it is strictly an energy medicine, no original product left and no reason whatsoever to be concerned that it is made from Duck organs.
It will not be the most effective homeopathic remedy for flu, but it is probably the easiest to take if you aren’t familiar with homeopathy, and the easiest to find at the store. Be sure to take it at the very first signs of the flu, before you are altogether sure that is what you have. Beyond that point of the disease it may not help much.